Sessional_Paper_1892 — Page 246

242

GENERAL.

Chinese Cemeteries and the Disposal of the Dead.

The question of the disposal of the Chinese dead is one which occupied a considerable amount of attention during 1891, and created much interest among the Chinese, to whom the dead are almost of greater moment than the living. A proposal, which at one time received a good deal of support, was made to have the Chinese who died in Hongkong buried outside the Colony on the mainland of China. To that proposal I was strongly opposed both on political and other grounds, and the Chinese themselves, the persons most intimately concerned, were not in favour of it. The proposal arose from a fear that, the area of Hongkong being so limited, it would not be sufficient as time went on to meet all the demands on it for burial spaces. In order to obviate this difficulty, I pointed out that, if the Chinese custom of exhuming dead remains after a certain period were availed of, the space in the present cemeteries would not be exhausted and new burial grounds, would not be required. Sanitary objections were raised in some quarters to exhumation on a large scale, but these have been overcome, and Mr. FRANCIS, Q.C., is now engaged in drafting for the Sanitary Board, of which he is a member, an Ordinance which will embody the principle of exhumation after a period of seven years. The regulation of public Chinese Cemeteries is a matter which has been taken up by no means too soon. Attention has been frequently called to their unregulated condition, but, now that they are receiving special attention, it is to be hoped they will be better looked after in the future than they have been in the past.

Common Lodging Houses.

Another matter which stirred up great excitement among the Chinese was the proposed regis tration of Common Lodging Houses in order to prevent the over-crowding, which is alleged to exist in them. The coolies who inhabit these houses were strongly opposed to the measure, though they quite understood its significance and were fully aware that they were to pay no registration fees. I think it is almost certain that, had it been enforced, a strike would have ensued. This would have seriously damaged the shipping interests of the port and caused great inconvenience to trade, as the coolies who load and discharge cargo and coal would have been among the strikers, and would have entailed much suffering on the coolies themselves, who are a poor class, living from hand to mouth. It was decided, and wisely I think, to adopt a Fabian policy in this matter, which was postponed for a year in order that it might be more fully considered.

Chinese Consul.

During 1891 a despatch (No. 107 of 21st May) was received from the Secretary of State for the Colonies stating that Her Majesty's Government had agreed to the appointment of Mr. Tso PING-LUNG, Chinese Consul at Singapore, to be Consul at Hongkong for one year, on the understanding that he was to be withdrawn at the end of that time if the appointment should be found not to work well. To that despatch a reply (No. 229 of the 15th July) was sent by the Officer Administering the Government, Major-General DIGBY BARKER, asking for directions as to the duties and powers of the Consul, an answer to which was received from the Secretary of State in despatch No. 235 of the 1st October, informing the Administrator that the request for the appointment of a Chinese Consul had been withdrawn by the Chinese Government, and stating, in reply to the questions raised by General BARKER, "that the duties and powers of any Chinese Consul would have been generally similar to "those of the Consuls of other Nations; that the inhabitants of the Colony would still have been expected to look upon the Registrar General as the Protector of Chinese, and that the Colonial Government would have continued to communicate with the Chinese Authorities through Her Majesty's Consular Officers."

*C

4

European Staff.

During 1891. Mr. SERCOMBE SMITH, the Assistant Registrar General, went home on leave of absence and Mr. A. W. BREWIN, Passed Cadet, was appointed to act for him. Mr. G. S. NORTHCOTE, the 2nd Clerk in this Office, was appointed Assistant Postmaster General, and Mr. E. S. SUTTON was appointed, subject to the confirmation of the Secretary of State, to take his place.

Chinese Staff.

Mr. MOK MAN-CH'EUNG, Chinese Clerk and Interpreter, having been promoted to the office of Chinese Translator in the Supreme Court, Mr. MOK LAI-CHI was appointed to his post, but the appoint- ment has not yet been confirmed by the Secretary of State. Mr. TANG YAT-KO, Chinese Writer, having resigned, Mr. WONG KI-cn'o was appointed, on probation, in his place.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,

Registrar General.